Luke and the Role of Women, By Brooke Hall

In this world, women often feel the brunt of oppression on a daily basis.  Even in America today, some women do not receive the same paycheck as their male counterparts.  It is a surprise to see a woman running for President or Vice President.  Female students sometimes feel as though they can not be as successful in math and science as the male students.  The media bombards us with images and stories of women (ie: Paris and Jessica), making us think that we must be like them in order to be important.  Even in the Bible, women read that we are to be silent in the church and ask our husbands spiritual questions (1 Corinthians 14:34-35 and 1 Timothy 2:11-14).  How encouraging it is to read Luke’s writings and his accounts of women and the relationships they have with God and Jesus!

Luke does something very interesting in his writings.  He pairs men and women together in a passage and sometimes he mirrors their stories one after the other.  This technique suggests equality among them during a time when women were considered second-rate.  He also continues his theme of the first shall be last and the last shall be first that we have seen with the Jews/Gentiles, rich/poor, and the Pharisees/sinners.  Luke’s words embolden women to take a stand and to be leaders for Christ.  We see that some of the oppressed women found strength to move into action, simply because they were human and in need of God’s mercy.

In the beginning of Luke, there are two special birth announcements.  Gabriel came to Zechariah and told him that his wife, Elizabeth, would bear him a son.  Elizabeth was old and barren.  Zechariah let his logic and common sense take over and he questioned how he could be sure.  Zechariah was struck dumb.  Gabriel also spoke with Mary, a virgin, telling her she would give birth to a son.  She also questions the angel, but she is full of wonder instead of doubt.  She remained faithful and was called blessed.  In this pairing, Mary was humbled by the angel’s visit and Elizabeth says she is blessed because she believed while Zechariah has to deal with the consequences of his doubt.

In the second chapter of Luke, we see equality in faith between Simeon and Anna.  They were both in the temple when Jesus is presented.  They both say a prayer of praise.  They are also both witnesses to a fulfilled promise.  It is important that we take note that Anna was a prophetess.  She was a leader in faith.  Have there been women in your life that led you in your faith?

Luke’s seventh chapter compares a woman who washed Jesus’ feet and a Pharisee.  Luke shows us that the attitude of the lowly woman seeking forgiveness is better than the righteous attitude of the Pharisee.  The woman knows her place in society but is moved into action because she can not find the right words to show her gratitude for God’s mercy.  The Pharisee may use many words, but is not moved enough inwardly to move into action outwardly.

Jesus surprises the Pharisees by healing on the Sabbath.  Jesus surprises them even more by healing a woman on the Sabbath.  Jesus heals a crippled woman in chapter thirteen and heals a man with dropsy in chapter fourteen.  Jesus’ mercy must be such a surprise to an oppressed and handicapped woman! 

Jesus shares a few parables about mercy.  There is the parable of the Lost Sheep, the Lost Coin, and the Lost Son.  In the first and last parable, God is portrayed as a man.  Luke has between those two parables a parable that portrays God as a woman in the parable of the Lost Coin.  Women all over the world that are told day after day that they are nothing more than a servant can finally feel important because they are truly made in God’s image.

 These writings are just a few examples how women play a significant role in the life of the church.  Women often move into action when they encounter God’s love.  Women were able to support Jesus financially, a woman had the courage to touch Jesus’ cloak, another woman, a widow, gives God all she has, and women were first to enter the tomb to find that Jesus had risen.  Women today can read Luke’s writings and know that God delights in their actions to promote His kingdom and know that they are loved equally.